New York Knicks Rookie Kristaps Porzingis Makes NBA History

New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis came into the NBA while being bombarded with boos from judgmental fans that were not willing to give him a chance. He’s turned many of those people around, and they’re now his biggest fans. A lot of fans believe that Porzingis will become a big star in the National Basketball Association. According to FanSided, Kristaps has done something that no other rookie has ever done before. Porzingis has recorded 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 75 three point shots and 100 blocks.

Kristaps Porzingis might not be the NBA Rookie of the Year this season. That award appears to be headed towards Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl Anthony Towns, who is averaging an impressive 18 points and 10 rebounds. However, the most versatile rookie to enter the National Basketball Association this season is Porzingis. The Latvian rookie has proven that he can make an impact both on the perimeter and inside the paint. Kristaps can hurt opponents on offense and defense.

Al Horford [Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]To give you an idea of how impressive these stats are, there is only one other player in the NBA that has reached the milestone this season. It’s Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford, who happens to be an All Star, and one of the best big men in the National Basketball Association. To make himself more valuable in free agency this upcoming summer, Horford worked hard last summer and made himself into a three point shooter.

Since 2006, there were only two other NBA players besides Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis that have achieved the same statistical success. Former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Shawn Marion did it a decade ago. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, one of the best players in the National Basketball Association, did it in 2012. No other basketball players have been able to be that versatile.

Kevin Durant [Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images]Since it is just his first season in the NBA, the New York Knicks and Kristaps Porzingis are both trying to figure out the best ways to utilize the 7’3″, 240 pound forward. He loves playing outside on the perimeter because his three point shot is virtually impossible to block due to his height. However, the Knicks feel that Porzingis needs to develop as a low post threat because they want to expose match ups against other centers in the National Basketball Association.

Beyond the numbers, Kristaps Porzingis has improved the New York Knicks defense. That was something that management was hoping for because Carmelo Anthony isn’t the strongest of defenders in the NBA. That’s one of the reasons why the Knicks signed Robin Lopez in free agency. He’s an excellent defender who will gladly box out one or two opponents so that Anthony and Porzingis can swoop in to get the rebound. Sacrificing stats is something that makes Lopez so valuable.

Shawn Marion [Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images]The emergence of Kristaps Porzingis makes the New York Knicks a much valuable franchise. Team president Phil Jackson should find it a bit easier for him to lure in free agents this upcoming summer than it was last summer, when he missed out on signing Greg Monroe, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks and LaMarcus Aldridge, who signed with the San Antonio Spurs. Plenty of NBA players are intrigued by the possibility of playing with Porzingis.

While it is impressive that Kristaps Porzingis has done something that no other NBA rookie has done, this is simply the tip of the iceberg. There’s going to be plenty more records that will be broken by the New York Knicks rookie. The team is hoping that his next big accomplishment will be to bring a championship since 1973. By being able to do that, he will surpass Patrick Ewing as a Knicks legend.